New Delhi, Aug 3 (IANS) A bill seeking uniformity in healthcare delivery by making registration of all clinical establishments mandatory was passed by the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the registration of clinics across the country will pave the way for regulation and standardization of healthcare.

‘Registration of the clinical establishment is the focus of the bill. It will provide data about the number and standard of clinics to the center,’ Azad said, adding: ‘Registration will be the key to regulation’.

Earlier, participating in the debate Monday, opposition members had objected to the legislation being focused only on registration and ignoring the other aspects like regulation and standardization of prices.

Dispelling their doubts, the minister said the bill will also pave the way for categorising clinics, which will facilitate their regulation.

‘We cannot run into regulation without having an idea of what we have to regulate. Once we have the data of the clinics, we can categorise them for regulation.’ Azad said.